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Texarkana council approves consent and multiple zoning items, authorizes firefighter assignment pay and denies SWEPCO tariff
Summary
Council approved the consent agenda and several zoning and site-plan ordinances, passed an ordinance authorizing a $250 monthly assignment pay for a TFMAS coordinator, and adopted a resolution denying Southwestern Electric Power Company's proposed large-load contract tariff; a billboard specific-use permit was denied.
At its Jan. 12 meeting the Texarkana City Council approved a multi-item consent agenda, advanced several zoning and site-plan ordinances after public hearings, approved an ordinance to authorize firefighter assignment pay for a Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TFMAS) coordinator, and adopted a resolution denying Southwestern Electric Power Company's (SWPCO) proposed electric service large-load contract tariff.
Consent items approved included minutes from Nov. 10 and Dec. 8, 2025; a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Plumber Associates Inc. for a combined sewer collection system model and master plan (contract amount $500,000 with Texarkana, Texas portion not to exceed $304,150); an engineering agreement for MRO site development at Texarkana Regional Airport with McClellan Engineering ($2,512,842.87); and a sewer replacement contract with Campo Incorporated ($322,703.84). The consent agenda passed on a motion from Council member Hart and a second from Council member Thompson.
On action items, the council adopted ordinance 2026-007 to authorize assignment pay for firefighters assigned to TFMAS coordination duties, approving a recommended $250 monthly assignment pay for the designated captain. "In most cases, the administrative fee from just one deployment is enough to cover this cost," the fire department representative told council; the ordinance passed unanimously.
The council also adopted resolution 2026-019 to deny SWPCO's expedited filing for a large-load contract tariff. City Attorney Jeff Lewis said CARD special counsel recommended denial to allow the Texas Public Utility Commission to evaluate the merits and ensure existing ratepayers are protected; the resolution passed by voice vote.
During the public hearings portion the council approved multiple zoning and site-plan ordinances (for properties including 5817 Richmond Road, 3326 South Lake Drive and 3133 Pleasant Grove Road) as read into the record by the city secretary. One specific-use permit application for an off-premises billboard at 1502 New Boston Road failed to pass after a motion to deny carried and no motion to approve was made; Council member Matlock later was recorded as abstaining on the vote.
Several items included staff stipulations: for example, a specific-use permit for a HUD-code manufactured home at 1009 Blanton Street carried stipulations that the unit meet 2021 HUD code standards, be tied down, skirted and underpinned, and conform to floodplain and building-permit requirements.
The council concluded the meeting after a city-manager report and brief administrative comments.
